Nonprescription Steroids on the Internet

Abstract

This study evaluated the degree to which anabolic-androgenic steroids are proffered for sale over the Internet and how they are characterized on popular Web sites. Searches for specific steroid product labels (e.g., Dianabol) between March 2006 and June 2006 revealed that approximately half of the Web sites advocated their “safe” use, and roughly one third offered to sell them without prescriptions. The Web sites frequently presented misinformation about steroids and minimized their dangers. Less than 5% of the Web sites presented accurate health risk information about steroids or provided information to abusers seeking to discontinue their steroid use. Implications for education, prevention, treatment, and policy are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Les Stériodes disponibles sur l'internet

Cette étude a évalué combien les stéroïdes anaboliques sont disponibles facilement sur l'internet et comment ils sont caractérisés sur les sites web. Les recherches des produits spécifiques comme la Dianabol entre mars et juin 2006 montrent qu'une moitié des sites web promeuvent leur utilisation avec prudence et un tiers les vendent sans prescription. Souvent les sites web présentaient les désinformations et minimisaient leurs dangers. Moins de 5% des sites web présentaient les risques de santé concernant les stéroïdes correctement ou l'enseignement sur leur terminaison pour les usagers qui veulent les arrêter. L'article discute ces implications pour l’éducation, la prévention, le traitement et les politiques des drogues stéroïdes.

RESUMEN

Los esteroides disponibles en Internet

Esta investigación evaluó el alcance de la venta de esteroides anabólico-androgénicos por el Internet y como son caracterizados en las páginas populares web. Búsquedas para marcas especificas de esteroides (como Dianabol) entre Marzo y Junio 2006 revelaron que aproximadamente la mitad de las páginas web abogaron por su uso seguro, y aproximadamente un tercio ofrecieron venderlos sin receta. Los sitios web frecuentemente presentaron desinformación sobre esteroides y minimizaron sus peligros. Menos del 5% de los sitios web presentaron información precisa sobre los riesgos del uso de esteroides en la salud o proveyeron información para usuarios dependientes tratando de cesar su uso. Se habla de implicaciones para la educación, la prevención, el tratamiento y la política.

Keywords :

• anabolic-androgenic steroids
• Internet
• no prescription sales
• nonprescription Web sites
• steroids
• steroid misuse

THE AUTHORS

Christen L. Clement, B.A., obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from Temple University in 2004. She is currently working as a Project Coordinator for the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia, PA. As a Research Coordinator for the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Studies of Addiction, she managed the “Narcotics on the Internet” study researching the portrayal and availability of controlled substances and has presented this research at national conferences. Mrs. Clement's research to date has focused on drug availability online, and she is interested in developing parent workshops as a primary prevention method to online drug acquisition by youths.

Dr. Douglas B. Marlowe, J.D., Ph.D., is the Chief of Science, Policy, and Law for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a Senior Scientist at the Treatment Research Institute, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Marlowe's research focuses on examining legal and ethical issues in addiction treatment, and evaluating behavioral treatments for drug abusers and criminal offenders.

Nicholas S. Patapis, Psy.D., M.A.C.J., completed dual-degree training in clinical psychology and criminal justice, and has 2 years of formal postdoctoral training in substance abuse and addictions and an additional 2 years of graduate training in clinical psychopharmacology. He is a Psychologist in the Behavioral and Developmental Services Department at SPIN, Inc., where he provides cognitive assessments and psychotherapy services to the public and to individuals with intellectual deficits and co-occurring mental disorders in some of the 60 homes served by his agency. He enjoys his job tremendously and volunteers extra time helping maintain the grounds and gardens around the buildings of the main campus in northeast Philadelphia.

Dr. David S. Festinger, Ph.D., is the Director of Law and Ethics Research at the Treatment Research Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Festinger holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, master's degrees in both counseling and clinical health psychology, and is a licensed clinical psychologist. He is a member of the Executive Committee and Awards Chair of the American Psychological Association's Division of Psychopharmacology. Dr. Festinger's research has focused primarily on empirically isolating the active mechanisms of drug courts, developing empirically based dispositional procedures for substance-abusing offenders, and bringing experimental research methods to bear on major ethical questions facing research participants in substance abuse research. Dr. Festinger has served as Principal Investigator and Coprincipal Investigator on numerous grants from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and has authored numerous articles and chapters, as well as a widely used introductory text on research methods.

Dr. Robert F. Forman, Ph.D., is a Clinical Scientist in the Medical Affairs Department of Alkermes, a biotech company located in Cambridge, MA. In addition, Dr. Forman is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. For over 30 years, Dr. Forman has worked in the substance abuse education, prevention, treatment, and research settings. As a Clinician and Administrator, Dr. Forman opened and managed over 20 addiction treatment programs for adults and adolescents. Dr. Forman's research interests include therapeutic alliance, drugs on the Internet, and alcoholism pharmacotherapy. Dr. Forman has served on the addiction studies faculty of a number of leading universities including the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, LaSalle, and Temple Universities. In addition, he helped to found and later served as the Chairman of one of the country's first undergraduate addiction studies programs. Dr. Forman has and published extensively in both the academic and professional addiction treatment literature. He is the Chair of two recently published CSAT Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) on outpatient treatment.